COVID-19 cases per state

COVID-19 deaths per state

Unemployment vs deaths by OD

Tab 1

Tab 2

Tab 1 shows raw unemployment numbers compared to raw deaths due to overdose per state, without considering prior unemployment values. Even without the influence of COVID-19, a relationship between these variables is to be expected, and indeed a positive relationship appears to exist.

Tab 2 shows the same data, but with unemployment normalized against pre COVID-19 levels. The relationship still appears positively correlated, but with greater variance.

Economic slowdown due to COVID-19

Tab 1

Tab 2